Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We’ll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form . We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

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Q: I recently replaced my iPad 2 with an iPad 3. I removed the old iPad from Account Information / Manage Devices in the iTunes Store. The person to whom I gave the iPad 2 performed a Restore within iTunes, and set it up as a new iPad. I restored from the backup of the iPad 2 during the initial setup of the iPad 3. However, the iTunes Store still thinks my iPad 2 is associated with my account. I removed it again, and repeated logging in to the iTunes Store from the new iPad, but the Store still shows my iPad 2 as an associated device (albeit with the current date). Is this a bug in the iTunes Store? Did I miss or incorrectly perform a step in transitioning from the old iPad to the new? Will I have issues with the iTunes Store on the new iPad in the future?

A: Actually, there does appear to be a problem in the iTunes Store with regard to actually identifying the new iPad models in the Manage Devices section. Basically, iTunes seems to be misidentifying at least some third-generation iPad models as second-generation devices at least two of our editors are experiencing the exact same problem in this regard. In the example below, the first iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G entry represents an actual iPad 2 that would have been registered on that date; the last entry is actually a third-generation iPad that was setup from a backup of the previous iPad 2, similar to the scenario you describe. Note that the original iPad 2 is still in use with this account, yet despite being erased and setup as an entirely new device it also still appears under the old name.

The good news is that this appears to be merely a cosmetic issue simply a matter of the wrong device model name being displayed. If you can connect to the iTunes Store from your device, and play and download content, your device is setup correctly regardless of what the Manage Devices screen shows.

In the same way as iTunes computer authorizations work, iOS devices and computers are registered with iTunes based on a specific hardware identifier in addition to the registration information being stored on the device itself. Restoring an iOS backup from one device to another will not transfer the iTunes Store registration; the new device still registers as a new device.

If you erase an iOS device and set it up as a new device you will still need to sign into the iTunes Store with your Apple ID and password to access your account regardless of whether it is still listed in the Manage Devices section. So in other words, even if you had not removed your old iPad from that list, the new owner can t do anything with regard to your iTunes Store account unless they actually know your Apple ID and password, nor will the iPad display any indication of being registered for your account the Manage Devices list only applies to the iTunes Store side and the iTunes Store does not push any account settings out to your devices, registered or not.

In fact, the device associations listed in iTunes are actually only used for features such as iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match. The only reason you even need to bother removing an older device from the Manage Devices screen is to free up a registration slot as there is a ten-device limit for these services.

As an aside, it s worth noting that because the device registration is based on the hardware. the 90-day restriction on switching accounts will continue to apply even if you restore the device completely back to factory settings, configure it as an entirely new device and remove it from the Manage Devices section of the original account. This means that when selling a used device, the new owner may find themselves unable to use it for their own content from iTunes in the Cloud or iTunes Match unless at least 90 days have passed since the last time you switched accounts. You can determine if you have any devices that are affected by this restriction by looking at the Manage Devices screen, which will display the number of days remaining before the device can be associated with a different iTunes Store account; no days remaining indicator means that the device can be switched to a different account at any time (which will start the 90-day clock on the new account).

The good news here, however, is that Apple doesn t appear to start the 90-day timer until the first time you switch accounts; in other words you can switch away from the first account you setup on your device for iTunes in the Cloud or iTunes Match at any time, when doing so you ll receive a warning that you will not be able to switch accounts again for 90 days from that point.

Note that this 90-day limitation only affects the ability to re-download previously purchased content, automatically download content purchased from another device, or enable iTunes Match; it does not prevent the user from using another iTunes Store account to purchase content directly on the device or transferring purchased content onto the device directly from iTunes over USB or Wi-Fi.

The Mac Task Manager

Many new Mac users are coming from the Windows world where they would access the Task Manager to end tasks and stop errant processes. The Mac has it s own Task Manager but it goes by another name: Activity Monitor. Activity Monitor functions in a very similar way to how Task Manager does in Windows, letting you easily view, manage, and end tasks, applications, and any active processes that are running in Mac OS X. If you re unfamiliar with Activity Monitor or task management on the Mac in general, don t worry, because despite it s immense power and control, it s not complicated to use.

The Mac Task Manager

Despite being named Activity Monitor many Mac switchers continue to refer to the utility as the Windows name of Task Manager, keep in mind that regardless of the lingo used it s the same application utility being discussed and used.

Remember, the Task Manager for Mac = Activity Monitor !

Using the Task Manager in Mac OS X

If you re used to Windows, you d get to the Task Manager by hitting Control+ALT+DEL. In Mac OS X, it s a bit different. You can launch the app directly within it s containing directory, through LaunchPad, drag it into the Dock, or use Spotlight for quick keyboard access.

Access the Mac Task Manager

Activity Monitor is located in your /Applications/Utilities/ folder. The simplest way to get to Activity Monitor in Mac OS X is to use Spotlight as a keyboard shortcut for quick access:

Hit Command+Spacebar to bring up the Spotlight search field

Type in Activity Monitor

Hit the Return key when Activity Monitor populates in the spotlight results

You are now in Activity Monitor where you can manage and manipulate tasks

It s often helpful to sort tasks by CPU, but you can sort them by name, memory usage, process ID, and use the search box in the upper right corner to be able to locate specific tasks that match names or characters.

Activity Monitor is very powerful because it not only shows you what applications are running for the active user, but it also displays system level tasks, kernel tasks, daemons, processes that belong to other users, quite literally every process will show up. If it s running somewhere on the Mac, you can find it in this list.

Killing or Stopping a Task/Process with Activity Monitor

From within Activity Monitor, simply click on the task or application you want to end and then click on the large red Quit Process button in the left corner of the app window. You will get a warning dialogue as follows:

Assuming you have selected the process/application you want to end, click on the Quit button. If the app is being unresponsive, you can click on the Force Quit button instead to immediately kill the process and stop the application from running without any further warning.

Get System Stats, CPU, Memory Usage, Network, and Disk Info in Activity Monitor

Looking at the bottom of Activity Monitor you can also get system usage information about your Mac. Just click on the tabs to see information about CPU, System Memory, Disk Activity, Disk Usage (space), and Network activity and usage.

If you want to see live system stats and activity all the time, minimize Activity Monitor, then right-click on it s Dock icon to enable various system activity monitors right in the Dock which will show live graphs instead of the standard icon. You can set them to be specific to CPU (arguably the most useful), network, disk activity, and RAM usage.

Quick Tip for New Mac Users from the Windows World

Until new Mac users are more familiar with Spotlight and how their Mac works, I often recommend recent switchers keep Activity Monitor in their Dock for easy access. The good news is that you will rarely use Activity Monitor, since Mac OS and applications within it run much better than Windows, but it s good to have it readily available in case something goes haywire. Typically if something does go wrong it s likely to be a subprocess or plugin inside a web browser, like Java or Flash messing up and freezing up an app or tab in the process.

Not everyone wants to have their credit card or debit card linked to their Apple ID. Some people are afraid of having their financial information tied to online merchants and digital content stores because of the unfortunate reality of identity theft and unauthorized purchases.

With that in mind, what should you do if you don t want a credit card that you ve already linked to your Apple ID to be there, but the None payment method option isn t showing for you?

We ll talk about that in this post and explain why the option isn t available to you.

It is 100% possible to set up an Apple ID without a payment method. My colleague Sebastien talked about how to do that in a tutorial published last year, but there is still a considerable niche of people who have been having trouble removing their payment information after they ve already added it.

Normally, you would just select None as a payment method and use iTunes Store gift cards to purchase content or stick to free downloads, but there are some rarer situations where the None option won t be available.

Unable to remove a payment method from your Apple ID?

There are a number of reasons why Apple might be preventing you from removing your payment information from your Apple ID. Apple says that one the following reasons are likely the cause:

You may owe Apple money

If you owe a balance on something you ve purchased from the App Store or iTunes Store, but Apple has been unable to charge you for it, then Apple may not allow you to remove a payment method from your Apple ID until that balance is paid off.

This might happen if your linked credit card was shut down, or suspended before Apple had a chance to bill you, and as a result, Apple hasn t gotten their money yet and is patiently waiting to collect their toll.

Once the balance is paid off, you can go into your Apple ID settings and easily select the None option for a payment method, which effectively removes your credit card from Apple s online system.

Are you subscribed to an auto-renewal service?

If you are subscribed to a service that is set to automatically renew every so often, then Apple will not allow you to remove your payment information because doing so would mean you wouldn t have a way to pay for your automatic renewal.

Among the things that you may have automatic renewal enabled for are:

Apple Music

Magazine subscriptions

Newspaper subscriptions

And more

Once you disable automatic renewal for any of these services that you may be subscribed to, you can easily set your Apple ID payment information to None.

Keep in mind that if you cancel your renewal within 8 hours before the renewal is scheduled to renew, then you may still be charged one more time before it cancels.

Do you use Family Sharing?

If you re utilizing Family Sharing on your Apple ID, then you will be required to carry the burden of having a payment method associated with your Apple ID and will be unable to remove it.

This payment method is used by all Family Sharing members at the discretion of the account organizer. There is no way to retract the payment method without first disabling Family Sharing.

Did you move to a new country or region lately?

If you ve moved out of your home country or region, and are trying to use a valid Apple ID that you set up on another country or region, then you will need to associate a new payment method with that Apple ID at least once.

You will always have the option to go back and remove it later on by selecting None from the payment options list in your Apple ID settings from a computer.

Has your Apple ID ever downloaded from the App Store before?

If you managed to make an Apple ID without a credit card, then kudos to you! But Apple may require you to provide a payment method the first time you attempt to download an app or a song from one of its digital content stores.

Of course, you can always remove it later on from your Apple ID settings.

Wrapping up

This information applies to Apple ID users who are using the App Store. Mac App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store, or any of Apple s digital content stores that use your Apple ID to make purchases or keep a running history of your downloads.

Keep in mind that it s typically a good idea to keep a credit card on file just in case you want to make a purchase some day, but we do understand that some people are deathly afraid of managing finances online for security reasons, so if you re one of these people, then more power to you.

Did this piece answer your question as to why you couldn t select None as a payment method for your Apple ID? Share in the comments!

I was on the US Store then i changed it to the Egyptian Store so i would be able to enter my visa credentials to buy an app,(because on the US Store it didn t accept my credentials because this is an egyptian credit card) but after i bought it i wanted to go back to the US Store, but i can t because i don t have a NONE option so i tried entering my visa credentials(Egyptian) it keeps telling me my Credit Card was declined, so i can t change to the US Store anytmore. and i made sure that i don t owe Apple money and i m not on family sharing or anything. So can anyone help?

Chloe Elizabeth Wade

Ik if u set it with none up by downloading an app u can put none but after the fact u can try this Tap Settings iTunes App Store. Tap your Apple ID, then tap View Apple ID. You might need to sign in. iOS iTunes and App Store Settings Tap Payment Information. If you re using Family Sharing, only your family organizer can update the payment information. Change or remove your information. To remove your payment method, select None. Get help if you don t see None or can t select it.

Chloe Elizabeth Wade

I don t know if it works personally coz I don t have a card linked coz I don t need to I just gift cards to pay my $4.99/month apple music (I m a student) if I needed to link a card for apple music I would coz I love my apple music

Chloe Elizabeth Wade

Well technically I haven t paid anything for it yet coz I still have free trial till 08/11 coz I only signed up earlier this month

Chloe Elizabeth Wade

Obvs I get other stuff as well but I ve bought most stuff I want now

Chloe Elizabeth Wade

I just get gift cards never had a card on my account I would probably get one if I needed to for apple music but I don t

When I first got my Apple ID it was frustrating to say the least, but I have never given Apple a credit card #, probably because I don t have one. Only use the cards since if I can t afford it then I don t buy it.

And why I can t add another one ?

I always wondered that too, I think its stupid, Apple aways does stuff that makes no sense.

I m the organizer in my family, subscribed to over 10 things, and honestly I can t even imagine why I would ever want to remove my payment method from my Itunes account.

Then why are you replying here? Because you do NOT want to remove your payment method? Senseless.

I don t owe Apple money, I don t subscribe to anything that has a fee, I haven t changed the country i live in, i have used my apple ID hundreds of times to download from the app store, I am not using family sharing. None of the possible reasons why a none option is not given apply to me. NONE! But still, there is no none option. I added a debit card (prepaid Amex serve card) last week to use the last dollar on it for a 0.99 cents in app purchase. Now the card has a zero balance I have already cut it up and thrown it away. It will not accept the card info, pressumably because there is a zero balance. I do not own another card account. And I cannot remove this destroyed cards info or select a none option. I need to update my apps, the only apps i have are free apps. What can i do? Short of getting another prepaid card and adding its info. This is crazy! What is Apple trying to force?

Apple’s Retail Strategy Is Still Paying Off in a Big Way

NEW YORK (TheStreet ) — Apple (AAPL ) no longer breaks out the sales of its retail store business as part of its quarterly results, but industry analysts who follow the consumer-electronics leader say the rest of Apple’s report suggests its retail operations remain strong at a time when the company is launching its most anticipated product in years.

Apple’s retail stores received attention recently for having only display models of the Apple Watch and only allowing customers to place orders for the device. The practice was promoted in an email and video by Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of retail. She encouraged retail employees to push consumers to purchase an Apple Watch through Apple’s online store.

Ahrendts’ method of promoting the Apple Watch was seen by some as a change in Apple’s retail strategy. Historically, the company has hyped up the first-day sales of new products, leading to long lines outside Apple’s stores.

But analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies said the absence of the Apple Watch in the Apple stores was more of a “one-off” event than a change in the company’s retail direction.

“You can’t glean any retail information from the Apple Watch,” Bajarin said. “That had to do with their supply chain. But you can get a pretty strong understanding that since their [overall] numbers did well, you have to believe that retail is stronger than ever.”

For the fiscal second quarter. Apple said it earned $13.6 billion, or $2.33 a share, on revenue of $58 billion. In the same quarter a year earlier, Apple reported a profit of $10.2 billion, or $1.66 a share, on $45.6 billion in revenue. Sales of the iPhone and Mac were among the quarter’s highlights, with iPhone revenue rising 55% from a year ago to $40.3 billion on the sale of 61.2 million units. Mac revenue rose 2% to $5.62 billion on 4.6 million units.

Top 50 online retailers in the UK: Argos reclaims second place from Apple

Argos is the second most visited online retailer in the UK behind Amazon, reclaiming second place from Apple, according to new data. The research, from Experian Hitwise and IMRG, indicates that Electronics retailers Currys (ranked 15), Comet (30), and PC World (38) all rose up the Hot Shops list this quarter.

Currys and PC World were also ahead year-on-year, up two and three places respectively on February 2011.

This quarter’s five fastest movers in the Hot Shops list were all travel brands. First Choice (up 37 places), Thomas Cook (+23), TravelRepublic.co.uk (+20), Thomson (+15) and Expedia (+12) all climbed in the rankings. Outside of the travel industry the fastest movers were LoveFilm.com (+10), Currys (+6), IKEA (+6) and PC World (+6).

Travel’s winter peak in January saw eleven travel brands rise in the rankings within the top 50. Premier Inn broke into the top 50 for the first time this quarter, and TravelRepublic.co.uk climbed 20 places on November to come back into the top 50.

As expected, this was a strong quarter for travel brands with the five fastest movers of the last three months all coming from this sector. Much like last year, it was the multi-channel travel agencies First Choice, Thomas Cook and Thomson that were the fastest-growing travel sites, although the airlines easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways all rose in the rankings too. By this measure First Choice’s decision last year to switch to purely all- inclusive holidays seems to have paid off, as the travel agency was ranked four places higher this year than in February 2011.

Post-Christmas shopping this year produced the biggest ever day of online shopping, with 96 million UK internet visits going to retail websites on Boxing Day 2011. In January it was the electronics providers and home improvements retailers that saw big increases in online traffic as consumers sought out big ticket items such as TVs, laptops, sofas, wardrobes and bathrooms. Currys, IKEA and PC World all jumped six places in the Hot Shops list since last quarter, while Homebase and Comet were also among this quarter’s rising websites.

Online-only brands also had a strong quarter. Four of the top 10 in the Hot Shops list this quarter are online-only, including fashion retailer ASOS which climbed two places to 10th position. ASOS was also one of four fashion brands including Next, New Look and Very.co.uk that improved on its position year-on-year. Video rental and streaming site LoveFilm.com climbed 10 places to 18th in the list.

James Murray, Marketing Research Analyst at Experian Hitwise commented: “Travel has done well this quarter despite some really challenging market conditions. In early December many of Europe’s ski resorts were struggling with a lack of snow and things were looking pretty bleak, but massive snowfall in mid-December restored confidence and this together with people planning spring and summer breaks has seen the market bounce back well.

“As we predicted, 2011 was another record-breaking year for online retail with 343 million hours spent shopping online in December. As with Christmas 2010 there is still a gap between multi-channel retailers and online-only retailers. For the last three years multi- channel retailers like Next, Argos and John Lewis have consistently received more traffic than the online-only specialists like Amazon and Play.com. However, some online-only brands are starting to level the playing field, as witnessed by the rise of ASOS, LoveFilm.com and the specialist travel brands in the rankings.”

Tina Spooner, Chief Information Officer at IMRG, commented: “These figures are consistent with what we’re seeing from the IMRG Capgemini Index, where sales in January for the travel sector were up 16% year-on-year, following what was a challenging year in 2011 for the online travel industry. The story is similar for the electronics retailers as well, where growth levels remained below average for the e-retail sector throughout 2011 but returned to fairly steady double-digit growth toward the end of the year.

“The November Hot Shops list coincided with the launch of the iPhone 4S and the passing of Steve Jobs, which resulted in surges of traffic to displace Argos from second place for the first time. However, Argos has now climbed back to its familiar position, which is unsurprising for a retailer that now makes 40% of its sales online.”

The IMRG-Experian Hitwise Hot Shops List of the top 50 UK e-retailers* is the key indicator of online merchant performance. The List is published quarterly and tracks popularity, as indicated by visits, of those selling goods and services within the IMRG Capgemini Index Classification. This List is based on January 2012 data. The IMRG-Experian Hitwise Hot Shops List excludes eBay and price comparison / aggregator websites such as Kelkoo and Froogle.

Dezeen Magazine

News: Apple has trademarked the design and layout of its retail stores, nine years after the first Apple Store opened in Virginia, USA.

The U.S. Patent Trademark Office this week published the tech giant s latest trademark certificate, which covers the “distinctive design layout” of the 400 stores worldwide, reports Patently Apple .

Above: Apple Store trademark image, via Patently Apple

The trademark consists of two designs, one in colour and one in black and white. Both present the typical Apple Store layout, with wide tables in the middle and benches around the sides where customers can try out the latest products, as well as the Genius Bar helpdesk at the back.

Steve Jobs, the firm s late co-founder, and Ron Johnson, the company’s former head of retail, are credited with the design and layout of the store. The first was opened in May 2001 in Tysons Corner, Virginia, but its now trademarked look was first introduced in Pasadena, California.

Apple has been caught up in numerous patent disputes, losing its long-running battle with Samsung last year when a high court ruled that the Korean manufacturer’s tablet computers were “not as cool” as the iPad. Another rival, HTC, also defeated Apple in a dispute over the use of swipe gestures in touchscreen phones.

Copying is an increasingly important issue in architecture and design, with developers in China recently accused of pirating a building by architect Zaha Hadid currently under construction in Beijing. Plans for Hadid’s Wangjing Soho complex were unveiled in August 2011, and the project is now racing to be completed before its copycat version.

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Comments

Sounds quite abusive! It is not Apple who invented structural glass, albeit there is always an architect who conceives such spaces. That doesn’t relate with Apple’s day-to-day business. Reading between the lines, this patent frenzy is a telltale that Apple has finally reached its bluntly square, hardcore corporate status. Which is also the kiss of death for any company.

Seriously, since when does such a thing like “copyright” and “trademark” exist in architecture?

People, please, this is not a patent for the architecture of the building, nor simply for the materials used. This is about the store concept (product placement, working products for hands on experience, genius bar for interactive helpdesk, lecture areas). These things really are a huge deal in the succes of the stores, and really are the result of tests and studies and studies and tests. This store concept is a “product” designed by Apple.

I once had admiration for Apple’s visionary design, both system and hardware. Now that the company has reached the unquestioned market leadership, Apple has simply become an “evil” company that tries to issue gagging orders on any potential competitor. And now finally: architecture and interior design? Really?

I can’t help feeling that with all its patents and trade-marking, Apple is a systemically weak company that fears everything outside of itself. It has such an unhealthy attitude to competition and possession that if it were a person, it would be one of the most neurotic people you’d ever meet and a definite candidate for mandatory therapy.

It’s a series of tables and wall nooks. C’mon Apple.

Good, let them trademark a played out aesthetic – just one more example of how out of touch they’re becoming.

Geert is right. This isn’t a patent on the architecture. Many of the Apple stores in Europe are located within historical buildings, i.e. Paris Opera Store, and Apple can’t change, modify, rearrange, etc. anything to these existing buildings. Most significant Apple stores are like this. Apple has cleverly designed their “retail store” as another Apple product.

But what I do find silly is Apple not only receiving a patent on their design of a glass stair but also a technical patent for the glass/hardware system. While I understand it is custom detailing, I still feel it’s a bit overboard.

“Cleverly”? You mean a consistent extension of their brand message? How exactly is that clever?

Much like they trademarked their “distinctive product design”, which isn’t really theirs either. Their entire design ethos is half-inched from one of the all-time greats, Dieter Rams. http://www.creativitypost.com/images/uploads/popc. http://theinvisibleagent.files.wordpress.com/2010.

Pioneering in terms of technology, yes, but in terms of design – phah.

Apple Store Coupons

Apple designs and creates iPod and iTunes, Mac laptop and desktop computers, the OS X operating system, and the revolutionary iPhone and iPad. Free shipping on orders over $50.

Apple Store Discount Tips

To qualify for an Apple student discount, all you need is an .edu email address and you can save hundreds shopping online at Apple.com s Education Store. You ll get 10 percent off on everything, plus occasional offers like free printers, iPods or App Store credits.

If you don t qualify for the education discounts, Apple offers discounted refurbished and clearance products as well. All refurbished devices come with full warranties and have had their external covers replaced. There is no indication on the box or the device itself that it is not brand-new.

Availability of Macs and iPads in the refurbished section of the Apple Online Store can vary from day to day. Some machines will be from prior generations or may not have the exact build-to-order specifications desired. Unlike new devices on the Apple Online Store, refurbished products cannot be customized, but with discounts as high as 30% off the original price (though usually on slightly outdated models), users looking for maximum flexibility on price will nonetheless get full warranty coverage and Apple s backing. Refurbished products are eligible for AppleCare, giving 3 years of warranty and support coverage.

Buying your Apple products with a credit card that offers extended warranty protection can be a great way to maximize your warranty coverage. For example, American Express cardholders who buy a Mac and AppleCare on their AMEX card get four years of total warranty coverage three years from AppleCare plus one year from AMEX.

Unfortunately you won t find an Apple promo code, but you can find free gifts with many purchases, sometimes gift cards or even an iPad.

Gift Cards

Easy to give. Fun to receive.

Prices are inclusive of VAT (20%) and Insurance Premium Tax (where applicable) but exclusive of delivery charges unless otherwise indicated. The VAT rate for products classified as services under EU VAT law will be 23% as VAT is charged at the rate payable in the country where Apple Distribution International supplies such products, which is the Republic of Ireland. The order form shows you the VAT payable on the Products you select. Apple Distribution International is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and has permission to offer its services in certain EEA countries. For further information, please see registers.centralbank.ie.

Apple Store Gift Cards are issued and managed by Apple Distribution International and can be applied only to purchases in the United Kingdom from an Apple Retail Store, the Apple Online Store or by calling 0800 048 0408. Gift cards may not be redeemed at the iTunes Store, at Apple resellers, for cash (except as required by law) or for shipments outside the United Kingdom. Gift cards will remain active even if added to the Wallet app on your iOS device. Neither the issuer nor Apple is responsible for any lost or stolen gift cards or use without your permission. Keep them safe; they’re valuable and can be redeemed by whoever finds them. Gift cards are also not for resale. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Gift card terms and conditions are subject to change without notice and some items may not be available for purchase. Please visit apple.com/go/agc for current terms, conditions and limitations. Use of a gift card is governed by English law. To check the available balance on a gift card, call 0800 048 0408 or visit apple.com/go/gcb/uk. TM and 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

This iTunes Card is redeemable only on the iTunes Store for the United Kingdom. To redeem this card, you must have an iTunes account, subject to prior acceptance of licence and usage terms. To open an account, you must be above the age of 13 and in the United Kingdom. Content and pricing subject to availability at the time of actual download. iTunes 9.0 or later, compatible software and hardware, and Internet access (fees may apply) are required. This card cannot be redeemed for cash, returned for cash refund, exchanged or used to purchase any other merchandise, provide monthly gifts or iTunes Gifting. Data collection and use subject to Apple Customer Privacy Policy; see www.apple.com/uk/legal/privacy. unless stated otherwise. You will be responsible for this card after purchase. iTunes is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from lost or stolen cards or use without your permission. These terms and conditions will not affect any of your statutory rights, which cannot be excluded by these terms and conditions. For more information on your statutory rights, contact your local authority Trading Standards Department or a Citizens Advice Bureau. Not for resale. iTunes Cards are issued and supplied by Apple Distribution International. In distributing the cards, retailer is acting as agent for and on behalf of Apple Distribution International. For full terms, see www.apple.com/legal/itunes/uk/terms.html. Content purchased from the iTunes Store is for personal lawful use only. Don’t steal music. 2016 Apple Distribution International. All rights reserved.

Redeemable only on the UK iTunes Store, or towards a UK Apple Music Membership. To redeem this code, you must have an iTunes account, subject to prior acceptance of licence and usage terms. To open an account, you must be above the age of 13 and in the UK. Content and pricing subject to availability at the time of actual download. This code cannot be redeemed for cash, returned for cash refund, exchanged or used to purchase any other merchandise, or provide iTunes Gifting. Data collection and use subject to Apple’s Privacy Policy; see apple.com/uk/legal/privacy. unless stated otherwise. Risk of loss and title for codes passes to purchaser on transfer. iTunes is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from lost or stolen codes or use without your permission. Your statutory rights are not affected. Not for resale. Codes are issued and supplied by Apple Distribution International. Terms apply; apple.com/legal/itunes/uk/terms.html. Content purchased from the iTunes Store is for personal lawful use only. 2016 Apple Distribution International. All rights reserved.

Apple passes Wal-Mart, now #1 music retailer in US

by Eric Bangeman – Apr 3, 2008 3:45 am UTC

Over the past few years, we have watched Apple climb the music sales chart courtesy of the iTunes. Last month we learned that Apple passed Best Buy to become the number two retailer in the the US in December. Now, Apple has ascended to the top of the charts, surpassing Wal-Mart for the first time ever, according to an NPD MusicWatch Survey for the month January contained in an internal Apple e-mail which was leaked to Ars Technica but has not been officially published.

The news was announced in an e-mail sent this afternoon to some Apple employees, a copy of which was seen by Ars Technica. It includes a screenshot of an Excel file showing the top ten music retailers in the US for January 2008, and Apple is at the top of the list. The iTunes Store leads the pack with 19 percent, Wal-Mart (which includes the brick-and-mortar stores as well as its online properties) is second with 15 percent, and Best Buy is third with 13 percent. Amazon is a distant fourth at 6 percent, trailed by the likes of Borders, Circuit City, and Barnes Noble. Rhapsody is in the tenth slot with 1 percent.

The fact that a digital-only retailer has ascended to the top of the sales charts is not unexpected, but it does demonstrate just how much the music landscape has changed since the beginning of the decade. The NPD Group has been tracking a sharp increase in digital downloads over the past several months as physical sales dry up. According to NPD s research, 48 percent of US teens didn t buy a single CD in 2007, compared to 38 percent in 2006.

Apple sits atop the NPD Group s list. At the request of the NPD we have removed screenshots of the documents in question

It has been a dizzying climb for Apple, which only managed to pass Amazon to become the number three music retailer in June 2007. The biggest surprise is Amazon s drop to the number four slot, which might be explained by consumers using iTunes, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy gift cards to buy music after the holiday season and those gift cards certainly helped propel Apple to the number-one position.

For the music industry, there is a dark side to Apple s ascension to the top of the charts. Buying patterns for digital downloads are different, as customers are far more likely to cherry pick a favorite track or two from an album than purchase the whole thing. In contrast, brick-and-mortar sales are predominantly high-margin CDs. For 2007, that translated into a 10 percent decline in overall music spending according to the NPD Group, and it s a trend that s expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Overall, paid downloads accounted for almost 30 percent of all music sold in January, a number that would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago. With the Big Four labels throwing off the DRM shackles and experimenting with new delivery models like Last.fm s free streaming service. the future looks bright for digital music distribution.

Update: note on debunking

We have seen some stories this morning claiming to have debunked this report based on conjecture (no factual detail or analysis). We repeat: the document says what we said it says, and you can see it for yourself. The documents were also distributed to Apple employees, and show Apple as the number-one music retailer during the period in question. That can t be debunked, sorry. (Sure, you can claim that the data is bad, or sampled incorrectly, but there s no proof of that yet.)

Also, I already noted that the results are influenced by gift card usage, and I noted that other retailers on the list have gift cards, too don t forget that fact. A sale is a sale, as well. We could also argue forever over whether or not gift cards sales matter, but note that no one was bothered by Apple s December results which included a great deal of gift card purchases as well (but didn t inspire any debunking that time around).

This is a monumental event for Apple, because while the company may not be guaranteed the top spot for eternity or even the following montH & Mdash;it is something many thought would never happen. But in closing, rest assured that this report is accurate.

Update 2: Apple confirms

Apple Store

In Short

Apple operates both Apple Retail Stores and Apple Online Stores, currently under the purview of senior vice president Angela Ahrendts. Both retail and online are focused on providing the best possible experience for purchasing iPhone, iPad, Mac, and related accessories. Apple Retail Stores are home to specialists who give courses on how to get more out of your Apple products, and Genius Bars which fix those products should anything ever go wrong. While skeptics doubted they’d succeed, Apple Stores have gone on to become among the most profitable retail spaces in the world and earn over $6,000 per square foot, which is twice the value of any other U.S. based retailer, even Tiffany’s which earns close to $3,000 per square foot on average.

Apple operates both Apple Retail Stores and Apple Online Stores, currently under the purview of senior vice president Angela Ahrendts. Both retail and online are focused on providing the best possible experience for purchasing iPhone, iPad, Mac, and related accessories. Apple Retail Stores are home to specialists who give courses on how to get more out of your Apple products, and Genius Bars which fix those products should anything ever go wrong. While skeptics doubted they’d succeed, Apple Stores have gone on to become among the most profitable retail spaces in the world and earn over $6,000 per square foot, which is twice the value of any other U.S. based retailer, even Tiffany’s which earns close to $3,000 per square foot on average.

Current Apple product owners can go to Apple’s website and easily schedule a Genius Bar appointment at any Apple Store that is close to them. When you show up for your appointment a dedicated Genius Bar technician will troubleshoot your device onsite and provide you with repair or replacement options on the spot. All Genius Bar employees are Mac certified and typically work on Mac computers in-store. Very few in-store repairs are done when it comes to iPhones, iPads, and iPods. These devices are typically replaced or sent out, but in recent years Apple has worked on expanding what repair options they can offer iPhone owners on location.

Most Apple Stores have a very industrial and modern feel to them. Many have all glass facades that are adorned in colorful banners and ads for Apple’s latest and greatest products. The main floor of each Apple Store is dominated by working models of Apple’s current product line. Apple Store employees are trained to help in specific areas and even offer One-to-One services for those new to Mac or iOS. Some larger stores even offer group workshops and presentations led by Apple Store employees.

When it comes to planning a new Apple Store, there have been many occasions where Apple repurposes existing buildings and structures in order to add to the uniqueness of the space as well as preserve buildings that may be historical landmarks. Apple has renovated old subway stations and repurposed them as Apple Store locations and even turned old historical buildings in Europe into one of a kind retail shopping spaces that people travel the world over to visit. Year over year Apple has ranked highest is customer satisfaction and the unique retail experience Apple provides no doubt plays a huge part.

The middle of it all

28 July 2016 By Joseph Keller Apple’s next retail location in New York will be at the World Trade Center.

22 July 2016 By Joseph Keller Apple is planning to open its first retail store in Taiwan, and is looking to hire retail staff and other personnel.

Paper, not plastic

04 April 2016 5 By Dan Thorp-Lancaster According to a new report, Apple is set to make the switch from plastic to recycled paper bags in its retail stores as the latest move in its green strategy.

19 February 2016 3 By Dan Thorp-Lancaster Apple is looking to boost its quarterly iPhone sales with a short-term rewards program for employees, according to a new report.

Protect that screen!

09 February 2016 18 By Joseph Keller Apple Stores around the world have started offering a screen protector application service in partnership with Belkin.

Coming soon to India

08 February 2016 1 By Joseph Keller Apple is said to be close to an agreement that would allow the company to open retail stores in India.

05 February 2016 5 By Joseph Keller Apple Retail Stores in Japan have started offering a new screen protector installation service.

You break it, they buy it

04 February 2016 8 By Joseph Keller Apple is reportedly preparing to expand its trade-in program at its retail stores to cover phones with broken displays. They are also said to be getting ready to perform screen protector installations in stores as well.

11 January 2016 1 By Dan Thorp-Lancaster Apple is reportedly looking to open a new flagship store in Paris after having secured a lease for a seven-story space on Champs-Élysées.

Bring out the artist inside

30 December 2015 1 By Joseph Keller Apple will hold a small series of workshops at its retail stores in January, aimed at improving customers’ artistic skills on the iPhone and iPad. The workshops will include sessions on iPhone photography, along with sketching and painting on the iPad.

17 November 2015 1 By Dan Thorp-Lancaster Apple has expanded in-store pickup to both Canada and Australia, allowing buyers to purchase online and then pick up their newly purchased products at their local Apple Store.